Bethel High School softball team cruises past Swett

Bethel gets twinbill sweep of Warriors

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Bethel High’s Lyric Aguigui scores on a wild pitch during a 22-0 win over Swett which ended with the mercy rule after the fourth inning. Swett forfeited the second game of the doubleheader on Wednesday. (Chris Riley–Times-Herald)

Prior to Wednesday, the Bethel High softball team had played just five games this season due to poor weather and a number of rainouts. However, by the second inning against John Swett both teams were almost praying for rain clouds.

The Jaguars took advantage of a rebuilding Swett program and swept a doubleheader 22-0 in the opener and 7-0 in the forfeit nightcap.

The Warriors had two pitchers that appeared to have little to no experience in the circle and the Jaguars jumped on both of them, scoring 10 runs in the first and seven in the second to take a commanding lead.

“In a game like this you tell your team to go hard and work on things that you’ve been trying to fix and correct,” Bethel co-head coach Anthony Kaluza said. “Also, you’re trying to not get the other team too down and you want to show good sportsmanship at all times.”

The offense for Bethel (4-3, 4-2) was led by freshman Lyric Aguigui, who had two hits, including a triple and four RBIs.

“You really have to be patient and keep your eye on the ball in that situation,” Aguigui said when talking about facing a pitcher (Tania Garcia) who isn’t throwing strikes in her warm-ups. “You don’t want to swing too early or else you’ll miss it.”

Aguigui’s triple in the first inning scored leadoff hitter Teralyn Wimberly, who had walked to open the frame. Walks were featured more than pancakes at an IHOP in the first inning as Warrior hurlers had trouble locating the strike zone. After Isabella Esparza had a two-run double and Avarie Mendez had an RBI single to make it 6-0, four straight Bethel batters walked with the bases loaded as the lead was stretched to 10-0.

In the second inning the first two Jaguars batters were hit by a pitch and four more batters were walked or hit by the pitch as Bethel up the lead to 17-0.

In the circle Wimberly had no trouble as she gave up just two hits in four innings for the complete-game shutout.

“She’s growing a lot more this year and is able to take criticism better this year,” co-head coach Marisa Kaluza said. “She’s becoming smarter and seems to know what pitches to throw in certain situations.”

Bethel scored five more runs in the bottom of the third, by which point Anthony Kaluza and John Swett head coach Gabrielle Gardner agreed to give Bethel a forfeit win in the second game. The Warriors are winless in eight games this season.

Been working at the Times-Herald full time since early 2011, was a stringer from 2001-2004 while in college at San Francisco State where I studied Journalism. Have worked as a copy editor and sportswriter since 2011. Fan of Dodgers, Angels, Lakers, Kings and Raiders.